Crane.



No. 7|o,555. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

H. 0. BALDRY.

CRANE.

(Application filed Fab. 1Q, 1902.) (No Model.) 3 Shouts-Sheet l,

'No. 710,555. I v Patented act. 7, I902.

H. 0. BALDRY.

CRANE.

(Application filed Feb. 10, 1902.) (No Model.)

m: Mali rcrzns ca. i kcrra-Lrma. wmmn-rou, 0.1:.

No. 7I0,555. Patented Oct. 7, I902.

H. 0. BALURY. 1

G R A N E.

(Application filed Feb. 10, 1902.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets$heat 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY OSBORNE BALDRY, OF SOUTHWELL, ENGLAND.

CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710.555, dated October '7, 1902v Application filed February 10, 1902. serial bio-93,372. (No model.)

- or in Connection with Cranes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to render ordinary contractors cranes applicable for other than crane purposesto wit, for batter- -trimming and soiling the slopes of embankments and cuttings, for trimming off theformation of either of these to the finished surfaces, for excavating trenches for foundationwalls, excavating for pipe-lines, for gulleting, and for similar operations. This I eifect by providing the crane with a socalled bucket-ladder, the inner end of which is hinged, capable of a limited adjustment as to height to the lower part of the jib of the crane, the free end or, rather, the body of the ladder being carried from a hauling-rope passing around the pulley at the top of the crane-jib, so that the inclination of the ladder can be varied, while the excavatingbucket is hinged to a carrier arranged to run along the ladder by a rope passingaround the winding drum or barrel of the crane and to be drawn alternately to and fro along the ladder by a rope passed around the winding drum or barrel of the crane, or a series of buckets may be fitted to the bucket-ladder and caused to travel around the same by a chain and a sprocket-wheel fixed to the shaft of the winding-drum of the crane.

This improvement is shown in general elevation in Figure 1, While Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side elevation and end view of part of the crane to a larger scale, so as to illustrate more particularly the means for adjusting the height of the inner end of the bucket-ladder from the ground; While Fig. is a cross-section showing the method of carrying a single bucket from the ladder.

I11 all the drawings the same reference let ter or figure refers to the same or corresponding part.

a indicates the jib of the crane, and b the bucket-ladder, one end of which is hinged at c to the lower part of the jib in the manner hereinafter described. The opposite end or, rather, the body of the ladder is suspended by means of the lifting-rope d, passing around the pulley e at the top of the jib and thence to the drum or barrel f on the crane, whereby the inclination of the ladder b can be adjusted parallel to the slope of the cutting or embankment to be trimmed or finished, or thereabout, as desired. To distribute the support of the rope (Z more equally on the ladder, I prefer to attach a pulley-block g to the end of the rope d and to pass a second rope 72 around said pulley-block and attach the ends of this latter rope to the ladder respectively at two points, dividing the length of the ladder roughly into three equal parts.

i is the bucket, suspended at its rear end from the bucket-carrierj by the hinge-joints 75. A similar hinge-joint at the opposite end of the carrier is provided to carry the bucket when cutting in the opposite direction. The

bucket-carrier as shown, Fig. 4, consists of two side frames, each carrying supportingrollers Z and guide-rollers m, the former running on the rails n, fixed to the top of the two beams or girders b b, forming the ladder, and the latter bearing against the lower outer beveled edges of the beams. The outer end of the ladder carries a rope or chain guidepulley p and the inner end of the ladder a similar pulley q. One end of a rope or chain 7' is attached at s to the front of the bucket i or of the carrier j, and the other end of the same rope is attached at t to the back end of the bucket or of the bucket-carrier. The rope r is guided by the pulleys p and q and makes several turns around the winding barrel or drum n of the crane. Unless there are two winding-barrels on the crane it will be necessary to provide a second one, as shown, for example, at f, for the lifting-rope d, or the winding-barrel u may be divided into two parts, side by side, each separately and independently rotatable on the same axis for the same purpose. The barrel or drum driving the rope r is capable of being rotated in either direction, either by reversing the engine v or by means of a reversing-clutch mechanism inserted in the gearing of the barrel u. The front end of the bucket is supported from the carrier j by a spring or bolt catch, so that it can be released to permit the bucket to swing downward about the hinge 7a to empty itself.

As it is desirable to be able to raise and lower the inner end of the bucket-ladder within a limited range, whereby also it is necessary to avoid any slackening or tightening of the rope 1' due to such adjustment, I make the following provision for this purpose: To the inner side of each of the side plates 10 of the jib I secure a triangular plate so, and on the inner side of each of these plates 00 a pair of angle-irons 3 so as to form two curved guides or races having for their centers the axis of the winding or hauling drum u. The curving of these guides or races in this manner secures a constant total length of the uncoiled parts of the rope r. The ends of the cross-shaft c, which forms the hinge-pin of the inner hinged end of the bucket-ladder Z) Z), enter these curved guides or races and are provided with antifriction-rollers or sliding blocks a, fitting between the angle-irons. A pair of cross-shafts 1 and 2 are carried in bearings secured to the said triangular plates :0, each carrying a pair of sprockets or chainpulleys 3 and 4;. Two chains 5 and 6, passing around these pulleys, have their ends secured, respectively, to collars 7 and 8, fitted on the hinge-shaft 0. By means of a worm-wheel 9, fitted on one end of the shaft 1, a worm 10, carried in bearings secured to one of the side plates m and gearing with the said wormwheel 9, a chain-pulley 11 on the axle of the worm, and chain 12, passing around said pulley 11, the hinge-shaft c, and consequently the inner end of the bucket-ladder, can be raised and lowered to any position allowed by the curved guide-race and retained in any such position.

Where a chain of buckets is employed in place of a single bucket, the former is guided in the usual manner around the bucket-ladder and driven for the time being constantly in one direction from the axle of the Windingbarrel by spur or chain gearing driving the hinge-shaft c, carrying the sprocket-wheels of the bucket-chain.

It will be evident that other means for raising the hinge-shaft c in the guides or races y may be employed. Thus, for example, a nut hinged to the shaft 0 and a screw passing through the same and carried in a bearing secured to one or both of the side plates in a hinged manner would efiect this purpose. Also the hinging of the shaft 0 about the axle of the barrel to may be by hinged links in place of the curved race.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In connection with cranes the combination of a jib a, a so-ealled bucket-ladder 1), side plates secured to the lower part of the jib, curved guides or races y carried by said side plates, a hinge-shaftc fitted to the inner end of said bucket-ladder b and the ends of the shaft fitting in the guides or races y, cross-shafts 1 and 2 carried in bearings on said side plates 50, chain-wheels 3 and 4 on said shafts 1 and 2, chains 5 and 6 passing around said chain-wheels 3 and 4 and having their ends connected to said hinge-shaftc, a worm-wheel 9 on said shaft 1, a worm 10, chain 12, and chain-pulley 11 on the axle of said worm 10 and a rope (I connected at its free end to the bucket-ladder b and passed around the jib-pulley e to a winding-barrel f on the crane all substantially asset forth.

2. In connection with cranes the combination of a jib a, a so-called bucket-ladder b a curved guide or race 3 carried by the lower end of the jib, a hinge-shaft c fitted to the inner end of said bucket-ladderb and guided by said guide or race y and a rope d passing around the jib-pulley e and connected at one end to the bucket-ladder b and at the other end to a Winding-barrel f on the crane substantially as set forth.

3. In connection with cranes the combina tion of a jib a, a so-called bucket-ladder 1) adjustably hinged at one end about the bottom of the jib, a rope cl passed around the pulley at the top of the jib and connected at its free end to the bucket-ladder b and its other end connected to a winding-barrelfon the crane substantially as set forth.

HENRY OSBORNE BALDRY.

Witnesses:

F. A. RINTOUL, HARRY A. WISE. 

